befor after showcase

little by little I get familiar with the interest of wood workers here and try to present them better and more attractive projects. I dont know what I should call this kind of furniture, we call it here in Iran ‘vitreen’ but I think in english I should call it ‘show case’. It has made of beech and hand carved here , but it has copied from Italian model, as you see carving is very good and acceptable, my customer has bought it arround 1000 dollars (the prices are in Rial but I translate it to U.S dollars to be know ) and I’ve gotten arround 4oo dollars to finish it in antique mahogany with gilded carvings. it takes arround one week for a skilled worker to make it ready for final coat and gilding, we care very much in prepairing the surface we use different and variable scrapers to scrape every corners of work, -I wil show you my hand made scrapers in future-
now let me to see your ideas and then I’ll explane more if you wish,
the gallery prices it arround 3000 dollars,

thanks grosa, actually we use different grit of sanpapers in addition of scrapers, we start with sand paper grit 80 , then 100 , 120, 220,and end with 400 befor topcoat. but the fact is sand paper is not proper tool for every part specially in steal – not plain- projects for examples the ground of carvings whic usually are very limited small areas , are not suitalbe to be worked on by sand papers, so we first scrape all the corners and grounds and details then we sand it with sand paper, whenever possible we use power sanders such as dis sanders or orbital sanders, so scraper is the tool -in my idea- that can not be ommited.

thanks for your notes. about Brit question; once I applyed the topcoat of the show case (a.c lacquer matt) – the 3rd pic I put in the pics show the topcoated project befor gilding- and it dryes overnight, it is time to gilding carvings or every desirable parts; first I apply a thin layers of shellac over the areas to be gild, then I apply gold size (the special adhesive we use to adhere leafs, it is waterbase). there is not need to mask the project the process is very easy but needs care; you can apply the size with small brush – or as I usually do- by cotton ball, you apply the size (glue) exactly at the parts you want to gild, every part which receive that glue would get the leaf even if you try to prevent, you must pay all your attention and care when you appling the size , then let it to dry but tacky ( it is very important and critical to know when the size is set for adhering the leaf, if you start gilding sooner or later your work would be ruined) then you apply the leaf with care over the parts you have applly size and burinish the leaf with soft cotton or brush, then you clean the corners of the exess leafs and finally apply many layers of shellac over the gilded parts to protect it from tear and wear,
if there is any other question I would be glad to reply

thanks for approval kind notes. now it’s arrownd 14 yrs I’m working in wood finishing, infact I’ve followed my father who is one of the best wood finisher with 45 yrs experience. today I’m trainer in wood finishing but Im his pupil. and always am trainee to learn. :-)

This is my favorite workpiece that you have posted yet. They have all been very well done, but this one truly pulls me in. The finishing looks great and the gilded work accents it very nicely. Your father should be proud of the work you are doing, you are obviously learning a lot from him :) I look forward to seeing more from you